Life's a Riddle
Summary: Only three people in the world know Alexis Taylor's real lineage , and that's her, her adopted muggle father,and Dumbledore. She has four successful years of lying low under her belt. Things are going well...until loony Potter claims that the Dark Lord is back.
Author's note: Wow, two reviews already! YAY! Thanks so much for feedback Torchwood Boy and Rachel-rob-Sandwhich!
Chapter: Old and New Pains
By the time they arrived at the Great Hall, Naudia had informed Alexis that The daily Prophet and the Ministry of Magic itself believed Harry Potter was, Alexis said, really "Harry Nutter".
" Most everyone thinks he's lying. I don't think he's lying, per say. I think something snapped in his brain when Cedric snuffed it. He must have seen it and not been able to handle it and so his mind made up this fantastic fantasy to cope with the accident and make it a tradegy, so he would have someone to blame. It makes more sense for him to blame the person who he mysteriously defeated in the first place, that way he could feel more confident in defeating him a second time."
" Or he's an attention-seeking, panic-spreading totally bonkers crazy child. Or scientifically speaking, Panicus Spreadicus Stupidus. " Alexis sneered.
Naurdia frowned in confusion. Alexis shrugged. " Muggle stuff. Anyway, who cares about him, they'll throw in him into St . Mungo's sometime anyway. Oh, The first years are coming in. Finally, I'm ready to eat."
" What, your gonna eat the first years now?" Naudia giggled. " Careful, my little brother is being sorted today."
Alexis grinned. " Nah, too scrawny."
The Sorting hat sang it's song. It warned of danger and urged the houses to stay united. Naudia and Alexis exchanged glances before eyeing the Gryffindor table.
Alexis looked at Harry Potter and mouthed to Naudia. " As if."
Finally, the Sorting started. After going on for an enternity, they finally reached Naudia's little brother. He was blonde, like her, but small for his age and shook violently as he sat on the stool, looking similar to a nervous chihuahua.
" hmm, Let's see now, Slughorn, eh...oh...I see...hmm, Better be...Hufflepuff!"
Naudia smiled and clapped loudly for him, while talking to Alexis. " I knew it. He is much too nice and sensitive to be in our house, and he isn't a genuis or stupid enough to be in gryffindor. Plus no one is as hard-working as know how terribly lazy I am, well, in some things."
Alexis nodded and clapped along with her. She preferred hufflepuffs to most every other kind of person, even in her own house. You could trust them, and they weren't known for bragging or rashness. They were just decent. She looked over at the table as the now excited boy took his seat.
Another boy, her year, clapped him on the back. She didn't recognize him, but he looked straight at her and smiled, and she found herself blushing. He had dark chocolate-brown eyes that seemed to shine, a square-jaw and high forehead topped with aubrun spiked hair. She smiled back, unaware of the dreamy look on her face.
" Crush much, Alex? " Naudia whispered as Alex pulled herself away from his wonderful face.
Alexis grinned. " More like an ambitious undertaking. What's his name anyway?
Naudia shrugged. " I guess that'll be your job to figure out, eh? "
Who cared about Harry Nutter anyway? He was wrong, and she was already formulating a perfect plan in her mind for the rest of the year , hopefully involving the good-looking Hufflepuff.
...
Alexis had a new-found hatred for Dolores Umbridge that grew as she got ready for bed. She hadn't known her before, but anyone who kept talking on and on for that long was a horrible person. And, from her speech, it sounded as if the Ministry was interfering in Hogwarts.
And, well, she respected Dumbledore and trusted him, but maybe they did need to interfere if he believed that nonsense Harry Nutter was coming out with.
But, she did trust Dumbledore. It was all too complicated.
Speaking of which, she had a meeting with him before Breakfast in the morning. Just a "routine checkup" as he called it , maybe she could ask him what was up with this "You-know-Who" nonesense. Maybe he was just trying to protect the boy until he came to his senses.
Whatever it was, she would find out the truth. And maybe this year, she could find out more about her origins.
She sat on her bed and snuggled into the green and silver sheets and blankets. A good nights sleep ought to help her figure things out.
" Night Naudia."
" Night Alex, sweet dreams."
Just as Alexis felt herself drift into dreamland, a sharp, hot knife penetrated her left shouler. She sprang up,but found no knife, only the horrible pain. She gulped and felt her shoulder with her hand. It was warm, as if sunburned.
" It can't be. He said they had taken care of it." She mumbled. Naudia moaned and rolled over. Alexis felt sick and lied down again, but didn't fall asleep for several hours.
...
Her shoulder was still sore when she woke up that morning. After getting dressed, she searched her pockets for the usual note. There it was, in his own handwriting. Just like every year.
She wasn't the only one up. A few other's liked an early start in the day, but no one asked where she was going. They never did.
She came to Dumbledore's office and spoke the password. " Ginger snaps." The great gargoyle moved and she ascended the staircase.
" Proffesor? I am on time, aren't I?" She said as she entered, though she knew she was exactly on time.
" As always, Alexis. Please have a seat." Dumbledore said. He sat behind his desk and adjusted his half-moon spectacles. She sat and folded her hands neartly on her lap. This time she would ask for sure. But first, the pain had to be told of...in a moment.
" So, how was your summer? Tell me about it." He asked conversationally. She couldn't deny it made her feel special that he wanted to hear about her life. Even if he did believe Harry Nutter, he did, at least, care about her.
" Well, I did more research for Dad on the smooth grass snake. He wants to have his book ready by the end of the month. And, well, I found a very interesting creature near my house."
" Oh, what was it?"
" Well, h-he is a snake, but he is oddest thing. He has, well, magic. He can apparate and cause himself to grow and shrink. He said he felt a strange call to come to my "territory" as it were, but he was glad of it because we do have an access of rats and field mice down south. Do you think it could have been me he felt? "
Dumbledore stroked his beard in thought. " I'm afraid I'm not sure. So, how does your new friend like Hogwarts so far?"
" What new friend?" Alexis replied to quickly. She sighed. " Well...yes...I brought him...but really, he isn't venomous and I needed more time to research him..."
" And that's why you brought him with you in your robes?"
Alexis titled her head. Of course she wouldn't do something so stupid!
" Ah, I see, He stowed away...and is about to cause damage to a bowl of my favortie treats I'm afraid." He said with an amused smile. Alexis looked behind her to see a long brown snake with beautiful green makrings slither around the glass bowl, causing it to tip dangerously. She ran over and scooped him up.
" William! I thought I told you to stay in the room!" She scolded him in parseltounge. He shrugged (the snake way, by rolling the head to the side.)
" I got bored. Besides, the Naudia human snores too loudly." He responded before apparting again.
"William has a bit of an attitude." She said with a nervous smile. " I'm sure he's back in the room now, under my bed." Hopefully. " Please don't make me send him away, I really really like his company. And he is quite useful and good at hiding."
" I am assuming that William has apparated home, and you will not find accomdations for him with Hagrid, and I will not be telling Hagrid to find a nice place for him." He said with a twinkle in his eye. He walked over and gave her a pat on the shouler, causing her to wince.
" Sore shoulder?" He asked, concern in his eyes. She nodded.
'" It's that wierd pain again, not a pulled muscle or anything. It's like I have a sunburn in just one spot and a knife wound." She said as she rubbed her shoulder. " I don't know what it is or where it came from...but dad does." She looked into his pericing blue eyes, frowning. " I know you do to. Why can't I know to?"
" You will know, when your ready." He said quietly, taking his seat behind the desk once more. " It's nearly time for breakfast, I wouldn't want you to miss it. I believe creamed eggs is on the menu today."
Alexis nodded and took her leave with a quick "thanks." Somehow, she seemed to leave with more questions than she had before every-time she left Dumbledore's office.
" Oh, and Alexis."
" Yes sir?"
" The Hufflepuff's boy's name is Darius Goodwin. " He said with a wink. She smiled widely in spite of herself and left, now twice as eager to get to breakfast.